Sphygmometer.



W. E. HASELTINE.

SPHYGMOIVIETER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I0. I9I2.

Patented MaylS, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1&399519.

THE NDRRIS F'Emn; c... .'nufv-L/THC.. WASHINGTON. Dv C Patented May18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. E. HASELTINE.

SPHYGNIOMETER,

lWPUCATION FILED 1AN.10, 1912.

THE NrJRR/s PErERs Co.. PHoTQL/THO.. WASH/NGroN. L7v c.

STATES PATENT WILLIAM E. HASELTINE, 0F RIPON, WISCONSIN.

SPHYGBIOMETER.

Application filed January 1G, 1912.

To all 107mm it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. Haslin- TINE, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ripon, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of YWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Sphygmometers; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

r1`his invention relates to an improved apparatus for measuring the blood pressure in an artery of the arm or other part of the body, the apparatus being generally known as a sphygmometer. I

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

rihe general features of the apparatus are well known and consist generally of a manometer, a pressure controlled tourniquet connected by a pressure tube with said manometer, means for inducing an increasing pressure in the manoineter and in the pressure tube in order to gradually constrict the part surrounded by the tourniquet, and valve mechanism for shutting off the source of air pressure when the pulse beat has been stopped by reason of the constriction of the artery. A valve is also usually provided for gradually relieving the pressure in the system in order to diminish the force of the constriction produced by the tourniquet so as to determine the pressure at the instant the pulse again appears.

rllhe object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind described, in compact and portable form so as to be conveniently carried in a suitable box or case and of such construction that it may be quickly and easily set up for use and in addition to provide such an apparatus in which the pressure is supplied as wanted without the necessity of operating a pump or other pressure inducing device during the time the blood pressure is being observed. i

1n the drawings: Figure 1 is a view representing my improved apparatus in side elevation when set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus in top plan, the mercury tube being shown in transverse section and the top wall of the air-storage tank being partly broken away to show the interior. Fig. 3 is a view representing a trans- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1%15.

seran No. eraser verse vertical section through Fig. 2 on the line 3 3 thereof. Fig. 4 is a view representing a partial horizontal section through Fig. 1 on the line 1 4 thereof. Fig. 5 is a view representing on an enlarged scale a transverse vertical section through Fig. 2 on the line 5 5 thereof. Fig. 6 is a view representing the left-hand end part of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, the mercury tube being shown in longitudinal central section, and being turned down into the position it occupies when the apparatus is not in use.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 indicates a closed tank or reservoir adapted for the storage of air under compression. A pump 11 is provided for charging the tank. Said pump may be of any familiar construction, such, for example, as the familiar bicycle pump comprising a cylinder and a piston and having a handle 13 projecting from the cylinder for actuating the piston. As shown herein, said pump is located within the tank and is -rigidly secured to the end wall 10a of the tank through a suitable aperture in which one end of the pump projects so that the handle 13 is located within the tank in position to be grasped: by the operator. rlihe walls of the tank are preferably prolonged beyond the end of the pump so as to provide a recess 13- at the end of the tank within which the handle 13 is located.

rllhe tank or reservoir 10 is preferably made rigid with a base-plate 14e which has a projection 14a extending laterally from the tank and a projection 11b which projepts beyond one end of the tank. On the errd projection 141 of the base-plate, las shown in the drawings, is secured a manometer comprising a mercury cup 15 and a long glass tube 34 connected at one end with the bottom of the mercury cup and open at its other end. rThe mercury cup has a base 15a, which rests upon the base-plate, and contains a cylindric mercury chamber 16 which is located somewhat above the level of the base-plate 14. Said cup is closed by a cap 17 having an internally threaded flange 17a screwed upon the internally threaded upper end of the cup. Said cap has an upright central boss 18 having a vertical passage 18?L which opens into the mercury cup 16. As shown, said passage 18a extends through a depending nipple 19 tion with a iexible tube 23'which leads to the tourniquet in the usual manner. The upper end ofthe vertical passage 18a inthe boss 18 is threaded to vreceive a .screwthreaded valve stem 24 having a longitudinally extending V-shaped" notch 25, the

`upper end of which is normally closed by means of a washer 26 interposed between the head 241 ofsaid valve and the upper end of said-boss. A valve 21a of familiar construction is placed in the tube 21 intermediate the tank 10 and the passage 2O in the boss of the cap and is adapted to control the flow of air from the tank to the manometer and to the tube 20 leading to said tourniquet.

The bottom of the mercury cup is provided with a downwardly extending passage 27 which leadsfrom the interior of the cup to a laterally directed opening 28 in which is secured a conical plug 29. Said plugis provided with a longitudinal central passage 30 which opens at one end through the end of the plug into the passage 27 in the mercury cupand at its other end opens laterally through the conical surface of the plug. Y

31 indicates a' tube having a closed lower end 31a provided with a transverse conical bore adapted to receive the conical plug 29.Y Said tube is adapted to rotate on said plug and is retained `thereon by means of a collar .32 and a screw 33. Within the tube 31k is supported the glass mercury tube 34, the

lower end of which communicates with a passage 35 formed in the closed end-,of the tube 31 and opening into the transverse bore therein at such a position as to be capable of being brought to register with the laterally directed outlet of the passage 30 in the plug 29, when the tube 31 is rotatedfon said plug. It is apparent that by rotating the tube 31 with the mercury tube 34 on the plug 29, thev communication between the interior of the glass mercury tube 34 and the passage 30 may be opened or closed.

37 indicates a scale arranged adjacent to the glass tube 34 and adapted to measure the height of the mercury when it lrises in the tube 34. Said scale, as shown, consists of a half-round tube 37a adapted to receive the glass tube 34, said tube being provided with flat lateral projections 37 b, 37b, located in the same plane and extendingF vertically aid flanges are provided with graduations, yindicating a suitable scale. The upper end of said scale is secured to the mercury tube 34 by means of a U-bolt 37C.' The half-round tube 37aL terminates at and rests upon the upper end of the tube 31, which supports the merf cury tube, while the lateral anges on said tube 37a are carried down below the top of said tube 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 5..

They are there secured between lateral flanges 40l of a half-round tube 40 which engages against the tube 31, and theiianges 41L of straps 41, located'respectively near the top and the .bottom of the tube 31. Said tube 31 is cut away in front of the scale to provide an opening 42 (see Figs. 1 and) so that the level of the liquid at the Zero point of the scale may be observed.

rllhe operation of the device is as follows: YV hen notin use, the mercurytube 34of the manometer is turned downwardly by means of the rotative connection withthe plug 29 yintoa horizontal position alongside the tank 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and2. In order to make this movement without losing the f Vmercury in the tube, the apparatus `is first turned so as to swing the mercury cup and tube in the common plane of theirL verf tical axes to the right as viewed in Fig. A5.`v i

This movement raises the level of the plug and lowers the relativelevel of thebottom of the mercury cup so that the mercury in the tube is caused to flow back into the mercury cup.

cury from flowing out through the passage 1n the cap duringthis movement, even 1n case the'mercury cup is completely inverted,

said stem being preferably madeV long The depending Vstem.Y 19 on the cap of the mercury cup prevents any mer'- enough 'so as to project above the level of the mercury when the apparatus is in the latter position After the mercury has been thus drawn from the'glass tube and from the tube 31,`theV scale and tube may bere-V tated en the plug 29 thus closing off the passage 30 and locking the mercury within the mercury cup and the plug 29. Vihen the mercury tube isi-again brought tev upright position, communication is opened between the passageV 30 and the mercury tube r 34 and the mercury `rises in the tube until`1'15 therlevels of the mercurylin the tube and in the cup are the same. (This level correspends' with the Vzero mark on the scale,

when the apparatus is placed VVon Va horii zontal base.

After the apparatus is set up or previously thereto5'the tank 10 is charged withair under pressure, the 'valves'.21 and 24V being whence it passes intothe transverse passage 20 and the vverticalpassagela in the cap of leo the mercury chamber and through the tube 22 to the tourniquet. rlhe air is permitted to freely enter through the tube 21 until the pulse disappears in the usual manner, whereupon the valve 21a is closed, thus cutting oli' the supply of air from the storage tank. In case the pressure upon the return of the pulse is desired to be noted, the valve 24 is slightly opened thus permitting the gradual escape of the air in the mercury chamber and in the tourniquet until the pulse is first detected when the valve 24: is closed and the pressure noted.

The measuring of the blood pressure is a rather delicate operation and Where a pump is used to provide the increasing pressure, which pump must be operated by one hand while the determination is being made, the pressure increase is not gradual or even, so that the mercury rises in the tube in spurts or jumps and it is diflicult to get an accurate reading indicating the level of the mercury at the instant the pressure is suiiicient to produce a cessation of the pulse and two or more operations may be required before a satisfactory reading is made. The operation is impeded also by the fact that one hand of the operator is used in determining the pulse while the other hand is required to opera-te the pump.

Vith the use of my improved apparatus not only is the manipulation of the pump dispensed with so that the operator has the free use of the hand heretofore required for operating the pump, but in addition, the pressure is steady and under accurate control so that the rise of the mercury in the tube is gradual and uniform and its height, the instant the pulse stops, may be accurately determined.

My improved sphygmometer may be conveniently carried in a box made, in the case of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, of a width and length to receive the base, and of a depth sufficient to receive the mercury cup of the manometer, since, in the case referred to, all of the parts of the apparatus, when the mercury tube of the manometer is turned down alongside of the storage tank, are conned within such limits as to be readily packed in such a case or box.

`While in describing one embodiment of my invention l have referred to certain details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited in any way except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. A sphygmometer comprising a base, a storage tank rigidly secured to said base and adapted for the storage of fluid under pressure, a fluid pump supported within said tank and operable from the outside of said tank, a manometer rigidly supported on said base, means providing a conduit leading from said tank to said manometer, a valve located in said conduit adapted for the control of the flow of fiuid therethrough, a liuid controlled tourniquet and means for connecting said manometer with said tourniquet.

2. A sphygmometer comprising in combination, an elongated storage tank adapted for containing fluid under pressure, a manometer rigidly connected to one end of said tank, said manometer comprising a mercury chamber and a tube open at its upper end and connected at its lower end to the bottom of said mercury chamber, means rotatively connecting said mercury tube to said mercury cup aording swinging movement of said tube about its lower end to bring it into a position parallel to the length of said tank and adjacent thereto, means providing a conduit between said storage tank and said mercury chamber, a valve located therein adapted to control the How of fluid therethrough, a fluid controlled tourniquet and means for connecting said manometer with said tourniquet.

3. A sphygmometer comprising in combination, a manometer and means for applying fluid pressure thereto, said manometer embracing a cup having a base and containing a chamber located above said base, said base being provided with a passage leading from the bottom of said chamber and through a lateral opening in said base, a plug secured in said lateral opening of the base, said plug having a passage connected with said passage in the base and opening laterally through said plug, a mercury tube open at the top, and means supporting said mercury tube, said means being rotatively mounted on said plug and containing a passage opening into said tube and adapted to register with the passage in said plug.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of December A. D. 1911.

WlLLlAM E. HASELTINE. lVitnesses:

Jos. L. STONE, G. W. RUNALS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the G'ommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

